weller



(No Model.)

P. A. WELLER.

SWITCH BAR.

No. 513,745. Patented Jan. 30,1894.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN A. XVELLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO HERBERT O. HILL, OF SAME PLACE.

SWITCH-BAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,745, dated January 30, 1894.

Application filed February 27,1893. Serial No. 463.874. (No model.)

T at whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN A. WELLER, of Boston, in the county of Sufiolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Switch-Bars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and

to the letters ofreference marked thereon.

This invention has for its object to provide a switch for shunt wound motors, with which both the field and armature circuits may be instantly broken and again established through the greatest rheostat resistance when it is desired to start the motor.

The invention consists in addition to the usual stationary rheostat contact pieces, of a movable and extensible contact piece or pieces mounted on a switch bar and held in extended position during the forward movement of the bar and retracted when a retrograde movement of the bar takes place, thus moving out of range of the stationary contacts while the 2 5 switch bar is returning to first position, whereby the circuit is broken and can only be established through the greatest resistance.

Further than this the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts all as will be now described and pointed out particularly in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the switch with 5 the movable contacts in position to establish the circuits when the switch bar is advanced. Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts in the position they occupy immediately after the circuits are broken. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the switch bar and movable contacts. Fig. 4; is a perspective view of one end of switch bar and movable contact. Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the stationary contacts. Fig. 6 is a detail section showing the tripping catch and 5 latch for holding one of the movable contacts in operative position.

Like letters of reference in the several figures denote the same parts.

As is usual in this class of apparatus, a suitable base plate or support is provided such as indicated at a for instance, and upon this base plate or-support is mounted a standard B carrying what I shall herein term the insulating hub A of the switch bar formed of any suitable material or metal and having attached thereto an operating handle M of approved form. Two horizontal openings are preferably formed through the insulating hub A substantially parallel to each other, and in these openings are rigidly mounted the oppo- 6o sitely projecting switch arms F surrounded at their bases 0 by insulating sleeves D and clamped in position by screws E as shown clearly in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

Pivoted on studs G on the outer ends of the arms F are What I term the movable contacts H preferably of angular form as shown, with the pivot at the end of one arm and the contact surface at the end of the opposite arm, whereby when swung on the studs or pivots the outer or contact ends will move nearly in direct lines toward and from the center or hub of the switch bar. Under the influence of springs J coiled around the hubs of the movable contacts the said contacts 7 tend to fold in as shown in Fig. 2 coming to rest against stop projections K on the arms and they are held extended or outward by latches I journaled on the outer ends of the arms or movable contacts and engaging recesses in the edges of the inner ends of the arms where they are held under normal circumstances by springs Q.

The stationary contacts are arranged radially around the center on which the arms 8 turn, and as shown, an upper series L is provided connected with the rheostat, a long lower contact L connected with the fields of the motor and two small dead blocks R R not in circuit with anything and acting sim- 9O ply to hold the ends of the switch arm'firmly' in place when the current is out 011, with the switch ready to establish the circuit as in Fig. 1.

WVith the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1, when it is desired to start the motor the switch bar is turned bringing the movable contacts into engagement with the stationary contacts and as it is desired to increase the speed, the bar is turned more and too more, gradually cutting out the resistance of the rheostat; then assuming that it is desired sprung up behind the same as shown in Fig.

'6. The springs J now assert themselves and the movable contacts are swung "on their 'p'ivots to the position shown in Fig. 2 away from the stationary contacts and the switch bar may be moved back to first position with the contacts out of engagement. Just before the bar reaches fi-rstposition theshoulders Oon the movable contacts strike pins or stops P and throw said contacts cut into normal position (see Fig. 1) when the latches again en'- gage and hold them in such position.

H Forconvenience, long segmental contacts :3 are provided 'on the base a around the c'en- I B linen ch s rin contact plates or stripsfr, on the arms F, rest to complete the circuits, the contacts S, it being understood I fannin terminals of the circuits to the mo- 1 for armature and fields.

ta'cts is immaterial, but I prefer to-empl'oy -a construction such as illustrated in Fig. 5 and consisting of a base block Z with U-shap'e'd contact ends Z adapted to engage with the top and bottom of the movable contact h'olding' it in place by friction, as well as insuring the electrical contact of the parts.

contacts during the backward 'l'n'o'vement of the bar I am enabled to provide a switch of simple design with which the circuits may be instan tlybroken when it is desired to stop, theinotor and when the switch bar is at any I point, for by a simple 'd uplicationof the trip I ping catches N retrograde movement of the rom any point will trip the latch and j.

the circuits.

It is obvious that the manner "of mounting the movable and extensiblecontact arms on the bar may be varied and well known inechanical principles applied to secure the desired extension when the operating handle 'Ino'ves forward "and a retract-ion during retrograde movement. Hence ,I do not wish to be uhders't'ood as limiting myself to the exact construction shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I I'clai-mas hew is I v '1. In a motor switch, the combination with the stationary contacts, of the switch bar, the movable and extensible contact arm carried 7 thereby and controlled by the movement of th'ebai' and an operating handle; substan-i ti'allyas described.

tracting the arm anda catch for rel'easi 2. In a motor switch, the combination with the stationary contacts, of the switch bar, the movable and extensible contact arm carried thereby, a latch for holding said arm and an operating handle; substantially as described.

3. In a motor switch, the combination with the -stationary contacts, of the movable switch bar having -'a folding contact arm and a latch for holding said arm extended; substantially as described. I

4. In a motor switch, the combination with the stationary contacts, of the movable switch bar having a folding contact arm, alatch for holding said am extended and a spring catch for releasing the latch; substantially as described.

5. In a motorswitehythe combination with thest'ationary contacts, of the movable switfch bar havinga feld ing contact wh n ring-r01- ret-racting'the arm, and a latch for-holding the arm extended with means for releasing the latch; substantially as described. 7 c a 6. In a motor switch-,t'h e combination with i j thestationary"eontactsmf the movable switch The special design of the stationary conbar having a foldingcontaetarm, a spring for retracting the arm alateh for holding the.

arm extended and a stationary catch for releasing the latch; substantially as d'e's'cii-logad.

7-. In a inot'onswitch,thecombination with ary projection for extending the arrn anda From t'h'e'foregoing, it will be seen that by 1 the rise of movable and extensible contact; arms ineunte'don the bar and held extended while the switch bar is advancing and re-s tracted'or moved away from the stationary bar havin-ga movable *co'ntalct arma stationaryrprojection for extendingthe armm latch for holding the arm extendedand'ajcatch for releasing the latch; 'substantially as'descri bed. 9. Ina motor switch,th'e'combihatio' with the stationary contacts-,=of thernova'bles'iv tch bar having a movable contact arm=,a 'staticinany project-ion for extending the arm, a, latch for holding the arm extended aspring torrethe latch when the ba'r'is given aretrograde m'ovement; substantially as described.

the stationary contncts-,='of-the inovableswir h IIO - 10. Ina motor switch the combination with the stati'on'arycontacts, of the movable switch bar having oppositely arranged movable contact arms, stationary projections in the paths of said arms for extending the same, latches on the arms cooperating with the barto hold the arms extended, 'sp'rih gs for retracting the arms and catches for releasing the latches when the bar is given aretrogr'a'de movement; substantially as described.

FRANKLIN A. WELLER.

Witnesses: v

ARTHUR W. ORossnEY, T. H. WILLIAMS. 

